Be Ready for Summer Heat Waves

July 11, 2015

Temperatures reached over 100 degrees in the San Fernando Valley last week before cooling off. More heat waves will come this summer, so be ready!

During extreme heat, the City opens up hundreds of facilities to be utilized as cooling centers, including Senior Citizen Centers, most Recreation and Parks facilities, and City Libraries. They offer residents cold water, and a place to rest indoors in the air-conditioning. For more information on where all the cooling centers are located, call 3-1-1 or click here.

Drink plenty of water: If you plan to be outdoors, take precautions to protect yourself from the sun and heat. Avoid the sun from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm when the sun’s burning rays are most intense. Reduce physical activity. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and light- colored, lightweight, loose-fitting clothes. Avoid hot, heavy meals and alcohol. Drink Gatorade or other non-caffeinated drinks with electrolytes. If you do not have air-conditioning, visit one of the City’s public pools or go to a public park to sit in the shade. Go to a shopping mall. You do not need to purchase anything, and there are plenty of places to sit.

Be Aware of Symptoms of Dehydration and Heat Stroke: Symptoms of dehydration and heat stroke include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps and increased thirst. To learn more, click here.

Never Leave Pets or Kids Unattended in a Vehicle: Leaving a child or a pet in a closed vehicle on a hot or sunny day, even with the windows cracked, can be fatal. On hot or sunny days, the temperature inside a car can be 50 degrees hotter than outside.